Illuminating apparatus



June 30, 1931. NYMAN 1,811,861

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fllazwder Nymdn BY r 7 AfiORNEY June 30, 1931. A. NYMAN ILLUMINATING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR flzzander Nyma/z V. W ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER NYMAN, OF DOBBS FERRY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RADIO PATENTS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK ILLUMINATING APPARATUS Application filed October 20, 1326. Serial No. 143,008.

, This invention relates to improvements in illuminating apparatus; especially electric illuminating apparatus. I

The objectof the invention is to provide electrical illuminating apparatus capableof affording illumination of constant intensity by means of alternating current.

A further object of the invention is to provide electrical illumination a paratus which is capable of afiordin'g illumination of constant'intensity when operating upon alternating current, through the agency of electrical condensers and other appliances connected in suitable relation, together with an is improved, method by which the desired result can be very advantageously secured.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken with drawings, and the novel characteristics of the invention will be defined in the appended claims. But this disclosure is by way of example only, and Imay resort to variations not actually shown or described herein but fully embraced in the principle by which the invention is controlled.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing the connections for one mode of practicing my invention;

Figure 2 is a vector diagram showing the electrical reactions which take place in the operation of parts shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to views 1 and 2 respectively showing another appa- 3r ratus and mode of practicing my invention;

Figure 5 shows a casing containing electrical appliances and means for making connections as required in the practice of my in vention; 0 Figures 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the action which takes place in the use of the circuits shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5;

Figure 8 shows how the principle of my in- 5 vention can be utilized with an arc lamp to' produce illumination of constant intensity on alternating current;

Figure 9 is a view of another circuit for producing constant illumination with an arc lamp Figure 10 is a diagram of the electrical reactions;

Figure 11 is a view of a circuit containing another method of producing constant illumination with an arc: lamp;

Figures 12 and 13 show the electrical reactions of the circuit of Figure 10;

Figure 1 1 is a view of an additional'circuit for producing a constant illumination with an arc lamp; and

Figures 15 and 16 are diagrams showing the electrical reactions of the circuit of Figure 14.

The same numerals identify the same parts cent lamp and the numeral 2 to indicate a similar lamp. These, lamps are both connected to be supplied with alternating current from a pair of conductors -3. With the lamps 1 and 2 in parallel across the supply leads 3, theoperation of the lamps upon alternating current in the usual way would en-- tail a periodic loss of intensity of illumination owing to the fact that the current periodically passes througlt zero in rising to a positive maximum and through zero again in passing to its negative maximum. If the frequency is low enough the lamps can be noticed to flicker, but even with frequency too current and the direct current is caused to flow through the lamps so that the intensity of the illumination becomes constant.

With my invention, I can utilize alternating current in the operation of the lamps 1 and 2 by causing the voltage and current through the filament of the lamp 1, for example to lead the voltage and current through the lamp 2 by 90. Then, as the current and voltage through the filament of one lamp is at zero, the current and voltage through the filament of the other lamp are at the maximum. To produce this efiect, I insert a condenser 4; in series with the filament of a lamp 1 and an inductance 5 in series with the filament of the lamp 2. Hence, if in Figure 2 the line 6-8 represents the line Voltage, the arrow 9-16 will represent the voltage of the inductance 5 while the arrows 611 and 69 respectively represent the current and voltage through the filament of the lamp 2. The current and voltage of the lamp will thus be retarded 90 with respect to the voltage 916 of the inductance 5, and 45 with respect to the voltage across the leads 3. As for the other lamp, the arrow 7 13 will represent the voltage of the condenser 1 while the arrows 6-11 and 6-12 will represent respectively the current and voltage through the filament-of the lamp 1. This current and voltage will, of course lead the condenser voltage 713 and be advanced 45 with respect to the line voltage 68. Thus the current and voltage of the filament of the lamp 1 will lead by 90 the current and voltage of the lan p 2. This condition is shown in Figure 6 where 10 represents the alternating current through the filament of the lamp 1, and 20 represents the current through the filament of the lamp 2, the latter being 90 retarded with respect to the former. In this view the line OX represents the zero line and OY represents the axis at 90 thereto. Hence, the heating effect on the filament of the lamp 1 is indicated at 171. and the heating effect on the filament of the lamp 2 will be indicated by the curve 271. in Figure 7 the peaks of the curve 1h alternating with the peak of the curve 2k and the resultant sum of these two curves will be a straight line parallel to OX, and having all. points at a constant height above the line OX as measured along the line OY. Thus, constant illumination will be aiforded by the lamps 1 and 2.

Figures 3 and 4 show a similar method in which instead of two lamps, a single lamp 17 is utilized with two filaments in parallel across the mains 3. One of these filaments lot has an adjustable condenser 4' in series with it and the other filament 2a is in series with an adjustable inductance 5 and a variable resistance 18, which are also in series with each other. With this combination of parts, the lamp 17 will give the same constant illumination as the lamps 1 and 2. On the vector diagram of Figure 4: the arrows 68 will represent the line voltage across the leads 3 as before. The arrows 6--11 and 6 to 7 indicate respectively the current and voltage through the filament 1a which lead the line voltage by 60, and the arrow 7 13 indicates the voltage of the condenser 1. Further, the arrows 6-14E and 6-15 indicate the voltage and current through the filament 2a and the arrow 916 indicates the voltage of the inductance 5. The arrow 20-9 indicates the drop due to the resistance18 so that the voltages 6--7 and 615 are equal and so are the currents through the two filaments. \Vhile the current and voltage through the filament 2a is retarded only 30 with respect to the line voltage, the current through the two filaments 1a and 2a are thus out of phase 90 as before, because the current through the filament 1a is advanced 60. The result is again as indicated in Figures 6 and 7 with respect to the lamps 1 and 2 and constant illumination is again secured. It will be also seen that the voltage on the filament will be one-half the line voltage.

Figure 5 shows a casing 21 for the condenser 4, the inductance 5 and the adjustable resistance-18. One of the leads 3 runs to a contact 22 united by a conductor 23 to one terminal of the condenser 41; the other terminal of the condenser being connected to a term'inal 24 outside of the casing, from which extends a lead 25 to one filament such as the filament 1a of the lamp 17, Figure 3; the other extremity of this filament being connected by a wire 26 to a terminal 27 joined to a terminal 28 to which the other lead 3 is attached. The inductance 5 is also connected to theterminal 22 and through the adjustable resistance 18 to another terminal 29 on the casing 21 from which extends a lead 30 to the other filament 2a for example of the lamp 17, the opposite extremity or the terminal of this filament being joined by the wire 31 to terminal 27 and thus connected to the opposite lead 3.

With this construction, the invention can be practiced as before with a single lamp such as the lamp 17, having two filaments; or two lamps, each having a separate filament. It is only necessary that the lamp having two filaments has three contacts so that proper connections in any suitable way can be made with the conductors 25 and 26 and 30 and 31.

If the values of resistance, capacity and inductance are chosen as in Figure 1, then 211O volt lamps may be used on a 220 volt circuit.

Figure 8 shows how the principle of the invention can be utilized with an arc lamp. Such a lamp will have two electrodes 1?) and 2b properly arranged with regard to a third electrode 32 and the three electrodes can be in a case 33 containing a reflector 34 and carrying a lens in front of the lamp. The operation of this device will be the same as set. forth above in connection with Figure 1, because the current throu h the electrode or illuminating member 1b 1s advanced and the current through the electrode or illuminating member 2b will be retarded 15, thus putting the two currents 90 out of phase giv' ing the same constant illumination as'in the case of the illuminating members or filaments of the lamps 1 and 2 in Figure 1 and the illuminating members 1a and 2a of the lamps 17' in Figure 3.

In Figure 9 I show the same circuit as in Figure 8 except that a step-down transformer is used, the secondary of which is connected to the electrode 2b. The condenser 4 is in line with one of the leads 3 and is connected to the electrode 1b, the other lead 3 being connected directly to the electrode 32 and across the leads 3 is inductance 5 in series with the primary of a transformer 36, the secondary of which, as stated, is connected to the electrode 2b at one extremity, and to the end of the primary at the other. Figure 10 shows the electrical conditions in this circuit. The line 6'-8 represents the line voltage; the line 6-11a is the voltage between the electrode 1b and 32; the line 67a is the current in the condenser C, while the line 11a13a is the voltage in the condenser O. The line 9a16a is the voltage of the inductance 5; the line 6'9a the voltage of the primary of the transformer 36. The line 61 1a represents the current in the primary of the transformer 36. The line 6'15a rep resents the voltage in the secondary of this transformer and between the electrodes 2b and 32. The line 6'-20a re resents the current in the secondary of t e transformer. Thus the current from electrode 1b to 32 is 90 out of phase from the current 2b to electrode 32, and constant illumination again results. Also a Voltage may be secured which will give the best operation of the arc.

Figure 11 shows a circuit supplied by alternating current connected to the leads attached to the terminals 3, this circuit comprising the primaries ofthree transformers Ta, Tb and To in parallel with each other. In circuit with the primary of the transformer Tb is an inductance 5, and in circuit with the inductance T0 is a transformer t, the secondary of which is short-circuited by a condenser 4a. The secondaries of the three transformers Ta, Tb and To each have one terminal joined to an electrode 1a, 2a and 3a, and their opposite extremities joined to a single lead which is connected to a central electrode D. Thus three-phase current makes an are light and this are light may lie between the electrodes 1a, 2a and 3a and the central electrode D, or the central electrode D might be replaced by three electrodes and three independent arcs might be employed.

Figure 12 is a diagram of voltages in the primaries of the three transformers Ta, Tb and To, indicated by arrows correspondingly marked. The numerals 5 indicate the voltage of the inductance coil 5, and the numeral t indicates the voltage of the primary of the transformer t. Figure 13 indicates the voltage from the electrodes 1a, 2a and 3a to the middle electrode 3. The voltages of the three transformers Ta, Tb and T0 are out of phase with each other, and the voltages of the electrodes 1a, 2a and 3a are 120 apart.

Figure 14 shows a modified three-phase ar rangement wherein an alternator A supplies alternating current to leads 3, one of which is connected to an electrode 10, and the other through a condenser 4 to an electrode 20. Across the leads 3 is connected a transformer 5 which energizes the secondary 39 connected to another electrode 30, and to the lead between the condenser 4 and electrode 20. Figure 15 gives the voltage vector diagram where the arrow 4 indicates the condenser voltage, the arrow 5, the transformer primary voltage, while the arrows between the points 10, 2c and 30 indicate the voltages between the three electrodes in question. These voltages are in a three-phase delta relation. As shown in Fi ure 14, the three electrodes 10, 2c and 3c eac have terminals 38, 39 and 40 respectively to unite them to the leads 3,-the condenser 4 and secondary 39. The arrow 39' in Figure 15 indicates the voltage of the secondary 39.

As shown in Figure 16, I can use six lamps instead of three electrodes, there being three outer lamps joined across the terminals 38,

39 and 40, and three inner lamps in the same positions as electrodes 10, 2c and 30 also joined to the terminals 38, 39 and 40, and to a common terminal at the center. This arrangement also gives constant illumination.

My invention thus afi'ords constant illumination with alternating current and no transformation of alternating current into direct current is necessary.

'Having described my invention, what I- believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A system for producing constant illumination comprising a single phase alternating current supply line, a transformer,'a con-. denser, and a reverse connection of the secondary winding of said'transformer in series with said condenser, respectively, connected to the single phase supply line for producing currents in three phase relation, an illuminating unit having a plurality of lighting elements, and means for connecting said currents to the lighting elements.

2. A system for producing eon-stant illumination from single phase alternating current, comprising a lighting unit having at leastthree electrodes in operative relation to each other, a single phase alternating current 

